Portable cleaning device



PORTABLE CLEANING DEVICE Filed Sept. 8, 1953 WATER INVENTOR LOU/E E SMITH ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,743,134 PORTABLE CLEA NING DEVICE Louie E. Smith,'-'Greenville, S. 'C. Application Septemher'8,.-1953, SerlaliNo. 378,872

soiaims. ".'(Cl.'299 84) This inventionrlates to cleaning devices broadly and rmore particularly-toadevice forniirting a liquid and a :detergent: and a gasand for-discharging this mixture'with "great force against an-article-to -be cleaned.

wh'ileth'ere are a number of different cleaning-and lxwas'hingdevices employed commercially, they combine 2,743,134 Patented Apr. 24, 1956 a s2 'retnovablePfor ithis purpose. Anya-suitable detergent may be employed but it is preferablethat the detergentibe some form of liquid soap. A handle- 12$ provided near the ttop "of the receptacleflto facilitate the moving a of the :entire "unit.

:air intake connection 15, communicating with the irecepta'cle .10 through ai ch'eck valve 16,=='a line 17 an'dthe manually:adjustable' valve :1 9,"is ;provid'ed'fors'introducing :.:air tunderrpressureitherein. A gauge 20' is rovided-so that :a' :visual determinati'on'may be made as to the; presarsure YDhtaining.:.ln the-itank .orareceptacle 10. -sIfdesired ..a:pop+off valve (not-shown) mayzbe providedin tlre line between the gauge-and the receptacle, which -will be 'actuated in the event that the pressure exceeds 'asafe' limit.

5 :It has been foundth'at between T50 p. s. i. and.-20'0p. -s.- i.

:Lin'rvarying :degrees the disadvantages ofbeing bulky, complicated, expensive and awkward to use and none of them offer such case and effectiveness of operation combined with simplicity of structure as does the portable cleaning device described below.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a cleaning and washing apparatus having a suitable tank or receptacle for holding detergent and suitable means closely associated with this receptacle for dispensing the detergent and at the same time mixing the detergent with a liquid and a gas and discharging this mixture with great force so that an elfective scouring action is produced thereby.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple portable cleaning device adapted for use with any suitable sources of gas and liquid under pressure, having a receptacle for carrying detergent and means for mixing the gas and detergent in varying amounts, as desired, with the liquid.

My invention generally comprises a receptacle for containing a detergent, a mixing chamber positioned beneath the receptacle, means for dispensing said'detergent communicating with said mixing chamber, liquid intake means also communicating with the mixing chamber for introducing therein liquid under pressure, means for introducing a gas under pressure communicating with the receptacle, to facilitate the dispensing of the detergent, and with the mixing chamber thus producing a mixture of liquid, detergent and gas in said mixing chamber and means for conducting said mixture from the mixing chamber to a suitable nozzle. Means are provided for deliver ing the gas into the mixing chamber as a jet at a point beyond or on the discharge side of the liquid inlet and the detergent inlet, and valves are provided for regulating the flow of detergent and gas.

While some of the objects have been set forth above, others will become apparent to. those skilled in the art of mixing and cleaning, when the specification is read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

The receptacle, the various connections, valves and the mixing chamber are shown in elevation with parts in section and parts broken away.

Referring more specifically to the drawing a receptacle or tank is broadly designated at 10. The receptacle 10 is provided at the bottom with suitablesupport means such as the legs 11. Any suitable supporting device could be employed and casters or wheels could be provided if so desired.

At its top the receptacle 10 is provided with a removable plug 13 for introducing a detergent 14. the entire top portion of the receptacle could be made If desired 7 represents a preferred range of "pressure.

'Tl1e air intake 15' also communicates,' through a'second 1 manually adjustable valve 24iand the line 25, with a'plug "26. .:A pipe or tubular 'element ls is threaded ir'itofithe hollow portion of the plug 26. The plug 26 is 'threaded intozthe :side of a :T fitting '30. -A-waterintake connection communicates with the T connection 30 through a check valve 36 and the line 37. q

Means for dispensing the detergent from the container or receptacle 10 are shown in the form of the line 40,- which communicates with the receptacle 10 by a threaded connection 41. A manually controllable needle valve 42 regulates the amount of detergent to be dispensed. After passing through the needle valve 42 the detergent flows into a mixing chamber 45 where it mixes with liquid which has been introduced therein through the line 46. It will be noted that the tubular element 28 projects into an extension of the mixing chamber which is in the form of a tubular element 47. It will be noted that this free end 28a is provided with a constriction in the form of a venturi 50.

In operation the air passes through this venturi and i is discharged as a jet into the tubular element 47 thus j The mixture of decausing a drop in ambient pressure. tergent and water surges forward, due to this drop in pressure, and is thoroughly mixed with the air. A hose connection 52 joins the tubular element 47 with a flexible hose 53 which is provided with a suitable nozzle 54 for directing the flow of the mixture.

While water and air have been employed forpurposes of illustration it will be understood that any desired liquid or gas might be employed equally as effectively. Steam may be used in lieu of the liquid and it is to be understood that many variations may be made as to the various lines and fittings as well as the mediums employed therein to form the cleaning mixture.

A Tconnection (not shown) may be interposed in the line 40 between the threaded connection 41 and the valve 42. The open end of the T may be provided with a plug which may be removed in order to connect a flexible hose to the open end of the T. Then with the valve 42 closed and with pressure obtaining in the receptacle 10 detergent may be sprayed on to the article to be cleaned through the newly added flexible hose, preparatory to subjecting the article to be cleaned to the scouring action described above. I

It is thus seen that I have provided an adaptable unitary structure which may be manufactured economically and by virtue of the novel mixing means a superior mixing and scrubbing action is accomplished while at the same time achieving a light conveniently portable device. While my invention is particularly adapted for use around filling stations for many different washing jobs such as washing motors, cars and machinery in general, it may be employed for many general washing operations.

Whilea preferred embodiment of my invention has for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A portable cleaning device comprising a receptacle for containing a detergent, legs for positioning said receptacle in an upright position, a mixing chamber positioned beneath the receptacle, a source of liquid under pressure communicating with the said mixing chamber on one end thereof, means for dispensing detergent from the receptacle communicating with the mixing chamber on one of the sides thereof, an extension of the mixing chamber on the end opposite to that in which the liquid is introduced, a source of gas under pressure communicating with the receptacle at a point above the level of the detergent and a line also communicating with the source of gas under pressure projecting into said extension for discharging the gas in a jet to cause a drop in ambient pressure whereby, the liquid and detergent are thoroughly mixed with the gas for discharge through a nozzle upon the article to be cleaned.

2. A portable cleaning device as set forth in claim 1,

in which manually adjustable valve means are associated with said dispensing means and with the means for introducing gas into the receptacle and with the line projecting into said extension for varying the amount of detergent delivered to the mixing chamber and for varying the amount of gas introduced into the receptacle and into the mixing chamber.

3. A portable cleaning device as set forth in claim 1, in which the line projecting into the extension is disposed axially therein and provided with a venturi adjacent the end thereof to discharge the gas in the form of a jet whereby, the liquid and the detergent which has been added to the liquid are thoroughly mixed together and gas added to the mixture prior to being discharged with great force against the article to be cleaned.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

